Between the Buried and Me ＂Astral Body＂ - Between the Buried and Me ＂Astral Body＂

What this video is

Released September 26, 2012, two weeks before the October 9 Metal Blade Records release of 'The Parallax II: Future Sequence,' this video arrived during a pivotal moment for progressive metalcore's mainstream legitimacy. The mid-2010s djent and prog-metal boom — catalyzed by acts like Periphery, Animals as Leaders, and BTBAM — was generating unprecedented demand for concept-album visual accompaniments. By opting…

Why it matters

A landmark example of the fully-animated concept video in progressive metalcore, 'Astral Body' eschews performance entirely in favor of CGI world-building that mirrors the album's science-fiction narrative. It represents the genre's growing investment in visual storytelling parity with its…

The director

Wes Richardson is a North Carolina-based freelance motion graphics designer, animator, and music video director operating under Wes Richardson LLC. His confirmed music video directing credits include 'Astral Body' by Between the Buried and Me (2012) and…